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Congressman Quigley and Labor Secretary Perez Call for Skills Revolution

April 26, 2016

Join Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce for Discussion on Workforce Development

CHICAGO — Yesterday, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the New Democrat Coalition, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez and Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Theresa E. Mintle joined executives from several of Chicago’s leading Fortune 500 companies to discuss workforce development priorities to ensure the economic competitiveness of Chicago and the country.

“When I was sworn in to Congress in April of 2009, we were at the height of the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Unemployment was at 10 percent, median household wealth plummeted by almost 40 percent and about five million homeowners lost their homes to foreclosure. Fortunately, the U.S. has come a long way since 2009, thanks in large part to the resilience of our business community and the pro-growth policies of the Obama Administration,” said Rep. Quigley. “But there is still plenty of work to be done. We must strengthen our education and skills-training programs by partnering with employers to make sure our workers are getting the preparation and certifications they need for today’s economy. Open dialogue between the business community and government – like yesterday’s discussion – will go a long way towards providing an effective, modern workforce for our future. I’m thankful to all of the participants, Secretary Perez and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce for all of the work they are doing to meet this end.”

"We've made a lot of economic progress since the Great Recession, but there is still unfinished business. In order to create shared prosperity for all Americans we need to help more people access the skills and training they need to compete for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” said Secretary Perez. “Government plays an important role in achieving these goals, but it can't do it alone. That is why collaboration between elected leaders, businesses and local community colleges is crucial to expanding our investments around apprenticeship and skills training. I appreciate Congressman Quigley’s commitment to building and sustaining these collaborations to help more ready-to-work Americans find the ready-to-be-filled jobs."

According to World Business Chicago, approximately 60 percent of job openings in the Chicago region require middle-skill credentials, but only 54 percent of the region’s workforce has the necessary education levels. By 2020, economists predict that nearly two-thirds of all jobs will require some level of education and training beyond high school. However, nearly 40 percent of Americans 25 years and older currently don’t have this level of preparation. The changing nature of the workforce, rapid development of technology, and inescapable global trends has fundamentally altered the set of skills necessary to sustain the American standard of living. What the U.S. needs is a skills revolution that transforms the entire pipeline of learning—from the youngest learners through college and adulthood—so that far more Americans possess the skills to get and hold 21st century middle class jobs.

“A dynamic workforce is a critical component of any strong economy. In our Chamber Member Survey, 90 percent of our members cited ‘access to talent’ as an aspect of Chicagoland that directly contributes to the success of their business,” said Theresa E. Mintle, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. “This workforce roundtable discussion provided an opportunity for local business leaders to share what is needed to ensure Chicago continues to cultivate and retain a steady stream of top talent.”

Theresa E. Mintle, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce (third from left, bottom row); Thomas Perez, U.S. Secretary of Labor (third from right, bottom row); and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (second from right, bottom row) with executives from several of Chicago’s leading Fortune 500 companies.

Rep. Quigley is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, a group of congressional lawmakers that promote policies that harness American ingenuity, innovation and entrepreneurship to grow our economy. In October 2015, Rep. Quigley introduced the bipartisan SEC Small Business Advocate Act, which establishes an Office of Small Business Advocate at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In February of this year, the bill passed the House by voice vote. He was also a supporter of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act and cosponsored an original part of this legislation that focused on helping businesses raise the capital needed to expand and create jobs. This legislation was signed into law by President Obama in April 2012.